Walmart has traditionally kept details of its online retails sales forecasts under wraps. Last week however, the retail giant finally shared some very optimistic predictions for global e-commerce growth.

There may have been initial disappointment that Apple’s latest iPhone doesn’t support NFC, however the new Passbook feature provides retailers with new ways to engage and interact with customers, increase foot traffic and boost sales.

Access to sheer amounts of consumer information has sparked a sudden, widespread interest in Big Data. As retailers begin to harness the associated opportunities, we break down the buzz to understand what Big Data is and how retailers should approach it.